Breakbeat music is an electronic music sub-genre that uses drum breaks from other music genres like soul, jazz, funk, and hip hop. A breakbeat occurs when a part of a song where the rest of the band stops playing, leaving the drummer.
Breakbeats are essentially short, percussive segments extracted from songs that DJs would loop to keep the dance floor buzzing. These loops became a staple in many hip-hop tracks, which allowed DJs to extend the most exciting part of a song indefinitely.
Breakbeat is a concept and style encompassing various music sub-genres and originated in the UK. A "break" — a sequence of syncopated 4/4 drum beats typically sampled from Rock, Jazz, Hip-Hop, and Funk — defines it.
As a musical device, breakbeats have been known and used for almost a hundred years. The name and modern meaning of the term traces its origins to the rise of hip hop in the United States during the 1980s. The electronic music genre is widely regarded as coming from the United Kingdom 's early rave music.
Yahoo: From breakbeats to the dance floor: How hip-hop and house revolutionized music and culture
From breakbeats to the dance floor: How hip-hop and house revolutionized music and culture
The New York Times: James Bernard, a Founding Editor of a Hip-Hop ‘Bible,’ Dies at 58
James Bernard, a Founding Editor of a Hip-Hop ‘Bible,’ Dies at 58
The Conversation: From breakbeats to the dance floor: How hip‑hop and house revolutionized music and culture
From breakbeats to the dance floor: How hip‑hop and house revolutionized music and culture
Dayton Daily News: From breakbeats to the dance floor: How hip-hop and house revolutionized music and culture